Do I need to fully discharge my golf cart battery?
Shallow discharges will result in longer battery life. Lead-acid batteries do not develop a memory like rechargeable NiCads and do not need to be fully discharged before recharging. Use your golf cart and batteries often…avoid long periods of storage. 50% (or less) discharges are recommended. 80% discharge is the maximum safe discharge.
How do you take the battery out of a golf cart?
The golf cart is used often for long distances and steep hills. Don’t use the cart for distances longer than it’s intended for and on steep surfaces. Open the battery compartment and take out the golf cart battery.
How to tell if a golf cart battery is dead?
There are four methods of checking whether your golf cart battery is dead. Use a multimeter to check the voltage of each battery in your golf cart. Use a hydrometer to check the gravity of the electrolytes in the batteries. Use the Load Testing method.
Can you use lithium-ion batteries in a golf cart?
However, they are really expensive to install, as your golf cart charger will most likely have to be replaced with one compatible to lithium-ion, and you may even have to make modifications to your cart for it to be able to run on lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid has a lot of advantages as well.
What is draining my golf cart battery?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded.
Why do my golf cart batteries keep losing water?
During charge, discharge and recharge cycles of batteries, the water decreases. With more charges, the water gets lower and lower. Especially in summer, when it's all hot, the water in the battery evaporates. If you don't check and maintain the batteries regularly, you risk the water level getting low.
Why do my golf cart batteries leak acid?
Battery leakages are the result of over-watering a battery. One of the most common mistakes golf cart owners make is watering a discharged battery during the summer season. When batteries are fully charged, the water is warmer, and the liquid levels are higher, because the acid is drawn out of the plates.
Is it normal for golf cart batteries to leak?
Golf cart batteries are likely to leak if you fill them with water before you charge the battery if you ever notice the level is a little too low. This mistake is not uncommon because many people don't realize that this water will heat up as your battery charges and could cause damage.
How often should you add water to golf cart batteries?
about once every 30 daysThe typical schedule is about once every 30 days, but this may vary by several days depending on your specific situation. When filling the batteries, add just enough water to bring it 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch shy of the indicator ring to prevent overfilling.
What happens if you put too much water in golf cart batteries?
Golf cart batteries produce electricity using electrolytes and water, which means you will need to occasionally add some more water. But be careful of the amount! Too much water can lead to the electrolytes overflowing. Too little water can cause sulfation, which damages the lead plates.
How do you know your golf cart batteries are going bad?
8 Signs You Need to Replace Your Golf Cart BatteriesCharge Times Are Out of Hand. Just like any rechargeable battery, the repeated cycles of draining and charging your battery can take a toll on it. ... No “Get Up and Go” ... You See Visual Signs. ... Driving Until They Die. ... People Are Always Running The Radio.
How do I protect my battery from floor acid?
Install drip pans in battery stands. Welded seams sometimes crack and let electrolyte through to accumulate on stands and floors, so corner-formed construction is crucial.
How do I know if my golf cart battery is bad?
1:3013:31Diagnosing Bad Golf Cart Batteries - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you can see that this one is showing negative 1.12 which i mean is showing reversed polarityMoreAnd you can see that this one is showing negative 1.12 which i mean is showing reversed polarity anyway so that's kind of odd. But this one has very very low voltage. So with the golf cart batteries.
Will battery acid eat concrete?
Battery acid stains should be cleaned up immediately as the battery acid will damage your concrete by eating away at the surface. Also, the longer the stain sets, the harder it is to get out.
Can a cart battery explode?
When batteries run dry, they can smoke and even explode. With each battery packing the explosive power of a grenade, the potential danger is a real threat. In order to prevent this, it is essential to check your golf cart batteries on a regular basis.
Is it safe to charge a golf cart in the garage?
Batteries should never be used longer than recommended by the manufacturer. When charging a golf cart, it is preferable to do so outside, but it is acceptable to charge them in a garage as long as the windows and door are open or it is otherwise well ventilated.
How to check if a golf cart battery is dead?
There are four methods of checking whether your golf cart battery is dead. Use a multimeter to check the voltage of each battery in your golf cart. Use a hydrometer to check the gravity of the electrolytes in the batteries. Use the Load Testing method.
How many amp hours does a golf cart battery last?
A bigger voltage drop is a sure sign of a failing or faulty battery. A golf cart battery comes with a specific amp hour rating at 20 hours. This is usually mentioned in the battery information sticker.
How to charge a 6 volt battery overnight?
Connect the battery to a three-phase charger that can charge 6 volts batteries and let it charge overnight. Check the charger status in the morning. If it indicates a full charge, check the battery cells once again and add some more distilled water to the cells with exposed battery plates.
Why does my golf cart battery keep going dead?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps going dead may be due to loose connections, incorrect battery wiring, or having a faulty voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is at fault and tends to affect the starter solenoid.
Why does my golf cart battery drain so quickly?
The reason why your golf cart battery keeps losing charge or drains quickly, may be due to loose wires, corroded connectors or an insufficient amount of water in the battery. The battery connections may have become loose or the connectors are corroded.
How to check the specific gravity of a golf cart battery?
Using a Hydrometer. You can use a hydrometer with a thermometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte in the golf cart batteries. If this value lies between 1.1 and 1.2, you must consider recharging the battery. Alternatively, if the value is between 1.225 and 1.265, you can continue testing your battery.
How much sulfuric acid is in a battery?
It’s worth keeping in mind that the sulfuric acid to water concentration for a fully charged battery is 1.28 while it’s 1.145 for a discharged battery. It’s highly recommended that you wear a pair of safety gloves and safety glasses when you use a hydrometer. Pour the electrolyte into the hydrometer.
How long do golf cart batteries last?
At the very least, your golf cart battery should easily last you for 18 holes. Most batteries last even longer than this, with some lasting for as long as 36 holes, and more.
Can you abandon a golf cart battery?
Pushing it all the way to the parking lot wouldn’t really be an option, and you can’t just abandon it – so you’d have to arrange for it to be towed. This would be annoying, expensive, and, let’s face it, embarrassing.
Can a golf cart battery go bad?
When not in use, golf cart batteries will naturally discharge – slowly. If a battery is going bad, then this may start to happen faster than it should. This would create problems when, say, you leave your cart unplugged overnight, and then come to use it in the morning, only to find that the battery has fully discharged.
Do deep cycle batteries charge?
Deep-cycle batteries are designed to go through regular cycles of discharging and charging. For the most part, the amount of time it takes to fully charge your batteries will be consistent, assuming that you always use the same charger. Over time, however, the constant charging will inevitably take its toll on the chemical processes of the batteries, causing them to charge up slower than before.
How many batteries are in a golf cart?
These batteries are configured within the golf cart’s frame rails and depending on the type of motor they are running you could see between (4) four and (8) eight batteries. These batteries will make up ...
How to tell what voltage a golf cart battery is?
Another quick way to determine what the voltage is of the batteries in your golf cart is to just count the caps on top of the battery. In some instances they will have a quick release car that covers all the cells filler holes. Either way count the caps or the holes that are being covered by one. (Each cell is 2 volts.)
How long do lithium batteries last?
Lithium batteries will last 10x as long as traditional lead acid batteries and have less than .01% discharge rates in static situations. (This is why they usually cost 10x as much.)
Do golf carts come with batteries?
Almost all golf carts come from the manufacturer with cheap batteries. Or at least cheap reliable chemistry. Batteries can be very expensive depending on the chemistry and anatomy of the specific battery in question.
How many minutes of discharge time is a golf round?
The industry standard is that 30 minutes of discharge time = 1 normal, 2-person, 18-hole round of golf.
How many holes does a golf battery pack play?
In other words, a battery pack with a 60-minute discharge rating will usually run two rounds (36 holes) of golf before the pack needs to be re-charged. A pack that is rated at 15 minutes would normally play a 9-hole round; a 105-minute pack would play 3 18’s and a 9 before it would need to be re-charged, etc.
How many holes can you rent a golf car in one day?
The “30-minute rule” for one 2 person 18-hole round is an average, but it is used by golf courses to judge whether a golf car can be rented twice in one day, and by golf car manufacturers for warranty replacement purposes.
Can a golf car run below the cut off point?
Modern golf cars with electronic speed controllers will normally not allow the car to run below its cut-off point. If voltage in the battery pack drops below its cut-off point the controller will normally shut the car down until the voltage comes back up above the cut-off point.
Can you turn off the radio on a golf cart?
Any lights, radio, or electric components in your cart should always be turned off when you stop using it. Leaving the radio or lights running on an idle golf cart can run down the battery incredibly quickly. In the case of a gasoline-powered golf cart, you may end up having to jump-start the cart to get it working again if this happens.
Can you use an automatic battery charger when it is fully charged?
It's important to make sure you're using an automatic battery charger that will stop being active as soon as the battery is fully charged. We've had clients come in with what they felt were "bad" batteries, only to have to explain to them that the battery had simply been damaged by being overcharged too many times.
Can you drive a golf cart up steep hills?
Forcing your golf cart up very steep hills or to go longer distances than it is made for will run the battery down and could leave you stranded. Just keep a careful eye on distance traveled and consider using a truck or trailer when transporting your golf cart longer distances.
Should golf cart batteries be charged?
Another common issue is golf cart owners who think that golf cart batteries should only be charged when they've become very low. If you drive your golf cart that day? Charge the battery. Letting golf cart batteries run down until near-empty or totally dead will damage them over time just as much as overcharging them.
How many volts does a golf cart battery need?
An automatic golf cart battery charger needs a minimal amount of voltage in the golf cart battery to even start working. They need somewhere in the range of 20-35 volts in the batteries to allow the chargers to know that they are connected up to batteries and to kick on.
What wires are needed to charge a golf cart?
Only the red and black wires are needed to completely charge the golf cart. The blue wire is an optional safety wire. If hooked up to the motor controller it will not allow you drive the golf cart while charging it. Think about being at the gas pump and driving off with the pump still in the car.
What is an OBC on a club car?
When you plug the charger into your Club Car, the OBC will tell the battery charger when to start and stop charging based on the voltage levels in your batteries.
What voltage do you need for a 36V golf cart?
You must match volts to volts. A 36V cart requires a 36 volt golf cart charger. A 48V cart requires a 48 volt golf cart charger. You can burn up your batteries if you do not charge with the proper voltage.
Why is my golf cart charging red?
Occasionally a red fault light on a golf cart charger can mean that the batteries do not have enough voltage in them to allow the charger to kick on (see Charging Dead Golf Cart Batteries above).
Why is my golf cart battery charger not working?
Bad connections will cause any battery charger to not function properly. After you've charged up your batteries and checked every connection and you are still having issues, it's probably safe to say you've got a golf cart battery charger problem and may need to service it or buy a new one.
Why is my charger making a clicking noise?
If the charger makes a loud clicking noise, this is likely a battery charger issue.
How many amps does a golf cart battery take to recharge?
To recharge, the batteries will require 90 ampere-hours + 20% to make up for any charge deficiency.
How to tell if your golf cart battery is bad?
Symptoms of a failing battery or batteries could include the following: 1 You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. 2 A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage. If this is experienced, your cart may be low on charge, the charger may not be functioning properly or you may have a battery issue. 3 On electric golf carts, the cart refusing to move at all on a charged set of batteries could be the controller not engaging when the voltage falls below a preset value. 4 It takes twice as long to charge your batteries as it did when you first had them installed. As the batteries age, they will not hold a charge as well as they used to. The charger has no way to know this and will continue to charge the batteries trying to get to a full charge – meaning it will take longer to charge the batteries than normal.
How to tell if battery life is nearing?
Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to allow the thermometer to adjust to the temperature of electrolyte and note the reading. Observe also the electrolyte color. A gray or brown coloration shows that the end of your battery life is nearing.
What is a golf cart battery charger?
The battery charger is designed to bring a normally discharged battery back to full or nearly full charge in a given time.
What temperature should a battery be when charging?
This will also initiate the equalizing charge. The batteries should begin gassing and bubbling. Keep the battery temperature between 115 degrees and 125 degrees.
What is a Trojan T-105 battery?
Trojan T-105 batteries are the best-known premium battery and have nearly 100 years of manufacturing experience. Trojan Battery Company was founded in 1925 and developed the golf cart battery for the Autoette in 1952. The distinctive maroon color of the T-105 makes it easy to distinguish from its competitors.
How to tell if your golf cart is low voltage?
You may notice the range decreasing over time. The range should be about 2 rounds of golf. A “Shutter” is when the cart feels like you are running across a corduroy road or someone is tapping the brake in a rapid staccato. This is a classic sign of low voltage.